Asbestos element former in hair dryers
 

Hi everyone.

I have amassed a nice little collection of vintage hairdryers I used to use a Ormond/ Siemens one but gave up on it over time as the fact its former was Asbestos began to really get to me.

I know the subject has been discussed here before by other members and a heat proof material board was suggested.

But I had a thought. There is often an abundance of second hand Hairdryers In charity shops etc. Has anyone ever tried using one of the formers from one of these and wrapping the original vintage element on one of these non asbestos formers?

If anyone has had success with it I may attempt it myself. I rather miss using them now as the give a good heat to air ratio unlike modern ones that are far to powerful.

Thanks for your time.

Regards

Re: Asbestos element former in hair dryers
 

Another thought I had was that if one took a silicone mould of the former you could make an exact copy in cement. Though would it be suitable? Being such a small part a doubt it would and much weight. My only concern would be with the heat cracking the cement. Would that happen?

Re: Asbestos element former in hair dryers
 

There's a car exhaust repair kit consisting of a glass fibre bandage and some heat cured paste, perhaps you could mould a former from that? a household oven should be hot enough to set it.

Re: Asbestos element former in hair dryers
 

Fire cement, as used for installing traditional open fires?

Re: Asbestos element former in hair dryers
 

That was my first thought too actually, but then I thought you'd probably need some kind of reinforcing mesh/fibre as well, which is what led me to think of exhaust bandage.

Re: Asbestos element former in hair dryers
 

I shall investigate your suggestions! Thanks for the helpful comments :)

Regards

Re: Asbestos element former in hair dryers
 

What shape is the former? Is it flat like a toaster element wrapped on mica sheet or circular with the element wrapped around it in a spiral, have you a photo?

John

Re: Asbestos element former in hair dryers
 

Hello John.

It is the type that is similar in appearance to ceramic in the shape of an X. I believe it is white Asbestos in a cement or similar substance. The element is wrapped around the x-shaped former.

It's pretty much identical throughout my hair dryer collection. They all have this variety of former weather it is a 30s one or a 50s one.

I whish I had the luck of having found Mica in them but unfortunately not. Mica and similar products are used in the modern one's I've looked at over the years.

Here are some pictures. The model in which the former is from is a mid 50s ormond hairdryer. The model is also made by Siemens as with the white one here also.

Regards

Re: Asbestos element former in hair dryers
 

I should also ad it is the type that is rock hard rather then a soft compressed type

Re: Asbestos element former in hair dryers
 

I could certainly see the problem if it was flaky and soft given the air would propel the particles towards you but if it's rock hard I can't see that it would be much of a health issue :-/

Re: Asbestos element former in hair dryers
 

My concern is from heating and Cooling Cycles that the surface layer may shed particles of asbestos. If it were possible to get them tested and see if they do shed or not it would put me at ease.

I used to use them every day but I do worry about the possibility of damageing my health or that of my fellow householders.

Re: Asbestos element former in hair dryers
 

That looks like fire clay to me.
It is more commonly seen in radiant gas fires.

Re: Asbestos element former in hair dryers
 

Looking at the photos I would agree with Refugee, unglazed fireclay, where I first worked years ago we used many refractory items of various shapes, sizes and materials none of which contained asbestos, however I can't guarantee it 100% and understand if you are still concerned, if you knew a potter they could probably shape and fire one for you quite easily.

John

Re: Asbestos element former in hair dryers
 

Hello All!

Some of you may have seen this lovely 1934/5 GEC Magnet hairdryer in its original box with instructions and advertising literature for sale online recently. Well it arrived with me yesterday and I disassembled it's casing to see if it contains the dreaded Asbestos.

Much to my immense joy I found that the element former is made of mica! There is also no asbestos washers around the motor as is sometimes found.

I reassembled it and plugged it in through a 5 amp round pin to 13amp adapter and it sprung to life with out a moments hesitation! Probably the first time it's seen power in 50/60 years at least!

There of course was the usual burning dust smell then it settled down to running smell free. I used it this morning and I'm happy to report it dose its job perfectly!

Regards.

Re: Asbestos element former in hair dryers
 

Some more images